Fashion & Beauty

From ‘I do’ to new do: Brides go viral on TikTok with mid-wedding day haircuts

Something borrowed, something blue, something trending on social.

Blushing brides are raising brows on TikTok by hitting pause in the middle of the big day to have their hair cut, in an effort to add extra bounce and shine to the wedding reception.

When Olivia Lopez was choosing a look to accompany the sequined white jumpsuit she hoped to wear for her epic afterparty last August, the 26-year-old from Oklahoma came across videos of brides getting their hair cut right after the ceremony, and immediately knew she’d found the special something she was after.

With 29.7 million TikTok views on the hashtag #weddinghaircut, stylists on duty are increasingly finding themselves tasked with a lot more than a loose curl or an up-do. Now, they’re often pulling out the sheers for a speedy, mid-event lop-off.

1 of 6
Olivia Lopez was nervous - but ultimately ecstatic - with her decision.
Olivia Lopez was nervous — but ultimately ecstatic — with her decision.Chandler Rae Photographer
She asked her stylist to lop her locks after the ceremony.
She asked her stylist to lop her locks after the ceremony.Chandler Rae Photographer
Advertisement
She was thrilled with her bold second look - as was her new husband.
She was thrilled with her bold second look — as was her new husband.Chandler Rae Photographer
Lopez thought the perfect time for a chop was during her wedding.
Lopez thought the perfect time for a chop was during her wedding.Chandler Rae Photographer
Advertisement

“I don’t really do anything crazy or dramatic — it was out of my comfort zone,” Lopez told The Post, saying that while the move felt “super controversial” to her, she was thrilled with the result.

“I’ve always had my hair long and I almost feel like I needed that little push, to do it for something so special,” she said.

Delanie Speeler, 25, who uses they/them pronouns, was inspired after seeing the hair chop trend appear on TikTok trend mid wedding-planning.

Explaining they had grown their wavy, dark hair long for the wedding to have “more style options,” Speeler knew they wanted something dramatic when it came to the reception. The stylist was only too happy to give the bride a buzz cut.

@drownedbylight

seeing the reaction on our families faces as we walked into the reception was priceless #fyp #foryou #wedding #weddingday #weddinghaircut

♬ Bloom (Bonus Track) – The Paper Kites

“I knew I wasn’t probably going to be doing an outfit change,” Speeler, from Covington, Georgia, explained. “So I thought, you know, my dramatic reveal would be to do a hair change.”

Only telling a select group of people — including their parents, grandparents and future husband — of their plans, accomplishing Speeler’s new look took all of 30 minutes.

“[The guests] thought I had worn a wig,” Speeler said. “Then they got a closer look [and] realized that was my actual hair.”

1 of 3
Speeler's dramatic buzz cut was a memorable part of the day.
Speeler’s dramatic buzz cut was a memorable part of the day.Sean Porter Photographer
Delanie Speeler said they've changed their hair many times - and loved the idea of doing so during their wedding.
Delanie Speeler said they’ve changed their hair many times – and loved the idea of doing so during their wedding.Sean Porter Photographer
Advertisement

For Leah Anderson, 26, the quick chop was a perfect way to add variety to her wedding album; she ducked away for her haircut during the cocktail hour.

“What better day to chop off 16 inches than on my wedding day?” Anderson joked, saying she’s always gone back and forth between short and long hair.

Describing the idea as “bold,”  the St. Louis newlywed at first didn’t think there would be enough time to make the dramatic change, but managed to pull it off, telling The Post she was thrilled with the outcome.

1 of 3
Leah Anderson was thrilled with how her hair turned out after the chop.
Leah Anderson was thrilled with how her hair turned out after the chop.Sally Grieshaber
She loved the element of surprise the new hair brought to the reception.
She loved the element of surprise the new hair brought to the reception.Sally Grieshaber
Advertisement

“It was a really fun and unique time I got to spend with the photographers, videographers, and [my husband],” the blushing bride reminisced, adding she enjoyed surprising everyone with her bold second look.

“I love that I have those surprised faces as part of my wedding memories,” she said.